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At a time when every handset vendor has launched or is planning to launch an application store of its own, carriers around the world were feeling left out. So at MWC earlier last month, 24 International carriers announced their plans to create a wholesale platform called â€˜Wholesale Applications Communityâ€™ for launching mobile application stores. Even Indian service providers such as Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone Essar and RCom have joined the league, with each one of them launching their respective app stores almost at the same time.

â€˜Vodafone Mobile Application storeâ€™ has got more than 800 apps and has also reported up-to 10,000 downloads in a time span of 20 days. Users can find apps based on categories such as entertainment, utility, finance, social networking and games. To use the Vodafone Mobile Application Store, subscribers need to send â€˜APPâ€™ to 111 (toll free) to get the URL. The store can also be accessed through Vodafone Live! Be prepared to shop a majority of apps since only 15 per cent of the apps are free of cost. The cost of the apps might range between Rs 5 to Rs 30.

â€˜Airtel App Centralâ€™ is launched with more than 1,250 apps. The store will provide you with free-apps and paid-apps (prices starting from Rs 5). Airtel App Central can be browsed via Airtel Live. Airtel subscribers can also SMS â€˜appâ€™ to 54321 (toll free) to receive the URL.

The exact number of apps on â€˜Reliance Applications Storeâ€™ is not known but it can be accessed via RWorld, allowing its subscribers to browse and download apps (paid and free).

â€˜Idea Application Storeâ€™ has been launched in association with Spice Digital.Users can download applications through the GPRS/WAP home page.

Aircelâ€™s mobile app store Flypp, will be also launched in a few months.